Late 20th/Early 21st Century
Size: 5.75" H x 6.75" D
Polished Red and Black with Features of Fire Clouds
From a Private Colorado Collection
Excellent Condition
Susie W. Crank is a renowned Navajo (Diné) potter from Shonto, Arizona, known for her handcrafted pottery that embodies traditional Navajo techniques. As the daughter of Rose Williams, considered the matriarch of modern Navajo pottery, and sister to potters Alice Cling and Sue Williams, Crank learned the art from her mother and was further refined by her sister Alice. Her work is deeply rooted in Navajo heritage, using traditional methods like hand-coiling, stone burnishing (polishing the pot 10-15 times for a smooth, luminescent finish), and coating with pine pitch for a distinctive sheen and waterproofing. Her pottery often features fire clouds—color variations from red to orange, brown, and black—created during the wood-firing process, along with traditional elements like the biyo’ (a decorative fillet around the rim). Crank’s pieces, such as vases, jars, and bowls, are thin-walled, highly symmetrical, and polished to a glossy finish.
22-1023